Britain’s most powerful Muslim woman named

A TORY peer was named the most powerful Muslim woman in Britain during a glitzy ceremony at Manchester's Lowry Hotel last night. Shadow Minister for community cohesion and social action, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi was named as the most influential in a power list compiled by the Equality Human Rights Commission, The Times and Emel Magazine.

A TORY peer was named the most powerful Muslim woman in Britain during a glitzy ceremony at Manchester's Lowry Hotel last night.

Shadow Minister for community cohesion and social action, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi was named as the most influential in a power list compiled by the Equality Human Rights Commission, The Times and Emel Magazine.

Paying tribute to the achievements of the successful women, Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Trevor Phillips said: "I would like to congratulate Sayeeda Warsi and the other women who have been shortlisted for our inaugural Muslim Women Power List.

"The Power List was established to celebrate the achievements of Muslim women from across the business, arts, media, voluntary and public sectors, highlighting leaders in these fields and high performers whose successes suggest they are destined for great things."

He added: "Our list of female Muslim high achievers challenges many stereotypes, celebrating some truly impressive individuals. This list is just the start of a more ambitious project to create a network of women defined by their professional capabilities and interests, where faith and their background may just be one part of who they are."

Said Baroness Warsi, who notably helped rescue a Briton jailed in Sudan for calling a teddy bear Mohammed two years ago: "Women have always been an intrinsic part of Islam. I grew up on stories of strong women within Islam, whether it was Khadija, the wife of the Prophet, an extremely successful business woman, who employed the Prophet to work for her before they married. Ayesha, who led many men into battle, and Fatima, the prophet's daughter, who was an intrinsic part of the social and political discussions during the time of the Prophet.

"I personally come from a family of all girls and was brought up to believe that anything was possible and being a Muslim woman should in no way be seen as a barrier but as an asset to achievement.

"I'm extremely proud to be named as the most powerful British Muslim woman and I'm sure my Pakistani origins, my strong faith, and my Yorkshire upbringing has played a huge part."

The 38-year-old added: "Of course I've encountered prejudice as a woman, and as a Muslim woman.

"One of the most specific forms of prejudice is journalists who ask, 'Are you a Muslim first or British first?' as if to say the two can't be reconciled.

"I think Islam is a hugely liberating religion for women. When Islam is interpreted properly, it is a religion that supports and reveres women. Unfortunately, I don't necessarily think that's always the way that some sectors of the Muslim community interprets it."

The Power List was established to celebrate the achievements of Muslim women from across the business, arts, media, voluntary and public sectors. The aim was to create a network of women who could benefit from each other's experiences in the workplace, women who have shown strong leadership and have made a positive difference to their own and the work of other's.

Other prominent Muslim women at the top of the Power List included Farmida Bi, a banking Partner for Norton Rose LLP, Professor Farida Fortune CBE, Dean of Dentistry and Oral Health at Queen Mary’s School of Medicine, Wasfi Kani, chief executive of Grange Park Opera and Mishal Hussain, a leading journalist and news presenter.

To see the full list of the UK's most influential Muslim women click onto 'related articles' on the right hand section of the page